Have you discovered a box of secrets in the attic? I did, and boy what an interesting addition to my research.

After the death of my grandmother Rogers- MILLER in 1978, my aunt received a trunk full of old letters, photos and things from her estate. This got placed in her attic and forgotten. It was not until after the death of her husband and her decision to sell the huge 6BR family home and downsize, that the trunk was rediscovered.

I can remember that saturday morning. "Barbara, do you want this old trunk of my mother's. It is just full of old letters and stuff?"

Well, duh. YES! By this time I was actively researching our family history and had been pestering my aunt, among others,for information. So, I set out to get the trunk, wondering if the content my open some new secrets for me to explore.

Sure enough, as I excitedly anticipated the possible content I hurried home and tore into the chest. Of course, I only glanced at most of the documents and letters, placing them in neat piles on the table so that I could sort and catalogue them later, but I just could not stop, until I found it.

Imagine my shock when I found my grandfather's divorce papers and learned that, not only had he been married before my grandmother, but he had two children by his first wife! OK, back to the phone to grill my aunt. No, she knew nothing about this and was quite curious to find out. So together we set out to learn all about this closely guarded secret my grandparents kept from all of os for over 50 years.

Well, it took some time but we found out what we wanted to know and shared the information, but there are other secrets waiting for me in those old letters, carefully tied into packages and stored for others to find some day.

My grandmother knew that eventually these letters and documents would be discovered. Perhaps she hoped no one would care and they would be tossed, but, either way, I am so grateful that she kept them for all those years and that my aunt was absent minded enough to forget to toss them out.

What secrets await you in your search? Don't discount those faded old letters and papers stuck in a box in a corner of an attic or closet. The treasures they contain may be your life's golden discovery.

We now have two more major branches and a slew of new relations to get to know. Isn't it just wonderful?